Closure apparatus



y 1930- c. H. EHLERS 1,756,976

CLOSURE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10. 1925 6 I N VEN TOR Carl jffifilera,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL H. EHLEBS, OF PENFIELI), PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ATLANTIC RE- I'INING OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- BYLVANIA CLOSURE APPARATUS Application filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,477.

My invention relates to apparatus utilizable for preventing back flow of a fluid from ball, moved into engagement with its seat by the liquid as it rises in response to the applied pressure.

My invention resides in apparatus of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

.Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a conduit 1, utilizable as hereinafter described, formed by a casing 2 secured in desired manner at one end to a tank or receptacle and at its other end to an upper casing. Preferably, however, one end of easing 2 is provided with a flange 3, and the other end with a corresponding flange 3 resting on and secured to a similar flange 4 carried by a pipe 5, or equivalent, leading to a tankor receptacle (not shown). Flanges 3 and 4 are suitably secured together,as by the bolts 6 and nuts 7, and to ensure a fluidtight-connection a washer 8, of suitable material, not affected by the contents of the tank, may be disposed between said flanges. If oil, or a similar substance, is contained in thetank, it is desirable that the washer be formed of a material not affected thereby, as V a composition of asbestos, and suitable-binding material. I

The casing 2 is provided with an ofiset box 9, at times receiving a ball 10, preferably formed of cork. It is to be understood, however, that ball 10 may be constructed of other materials, as a thin casing of suitable metal entrapping a body of gas, as air. Ball 10 at times is caused to travel from the oifset portion 9 to a position adjacent the top of conduit 1. To the end that such movement of the ball may be expeditiously effected, guiding ribs or tracks 11, formed preferably integ-rally with the casing 2, extend laterally into th c conduit 1.

Afi upper conduit 12 aligned with conduit 1 is formed by an upper casing 13 having a flange 14 resting upon and suitably secured to flange 3 of casing 2, as by bolts 15, each held in position by a nut 16. To ensure a fluid-tight connection at this point, a washer 17, of material corresponding to that of and 14.

v An annular seat 18 is providedon the interior surface of casing13 in a region where its internal diameter is somewhat less than that of the ball 10, and at a suitable distance thereabove, an outwardly extending flanged portion 19 of the upper casingforms a second annular seat 20. The upper wall 21 of casing 13 is provided with a third annular seat 22 and a threaded portion 23, the latter extending from. the top of said upper wall, preferably on the interior thereof, a suitable distance toward the flange l9. 7

A cap 24, having a projection 25 to be engaged by a wrench, or other suitable tool, comprises a sleeve 26 threaded exteriorly, as

indicated at 27 An annular ledge 28 formed integrally with cap 24 carries-a washer 29, of materlal corresponding to that of washer 8. A collar-30, likewise preferably formed or plate 33 carrying a washer 34, of material of the groove to control the movement of sleeve 35 within the collar 30.

Apparatus of the character herein described is especially adapted for use in connection with systems dispensing oil or gasoline under air or hydraulic pressure, and, therefore, for purposes of illustration, it may be assumed that pipe 5 leads to a suitable tank about to be furnished with a fresh supply of such liquid. As a preliminary meas-, ure, the extraneous pressure is cut ofi, whereupon the cap 24 is removed from the u per wall 21 of casing 13 and a fill bushing su tituted therefor. -Under such circumstances, ball 10 will be in the position indicated by the dot and dash line of Fig. 1, and the desired quantity of liquid may be introduced into the tank.

The fill bushing is now removed and cap 24 again placed in position on the upper wall 21. Immediately after initial engagement of threaded sleeve 26 with the threads 27, washer 34 on the ledge 33 engages the seat 20, since upon removal of the cap the expansive tendency of spiral spring 36 moved valve disk 32 outwardly the full amount permitted by screws 31, which are positioned on the collar 30 and co-operate with a wall of the groove 37 to control the amount of outward movement of the valve '32 so that the washer 34 will engage seat 20 in the manner specified. Continued inward movement of cap 24 serves to move collar 30 with respect to sleeve 35, compressing spring 36 and thereby efiecting a liquid-tight seal between the seat 20 and washer 34. It is to be noted that after valve disk 32 has been firmly seated on seat 20, continued rotation of cap 24 no longer rotates the valve disk, which remains stationary while collar 30 is. being rotated and moved axially toward the seat- 20. It follows,..there fore, that washer 34 is not subjected to the usual twisting action when bein seated, and as a result, has a much longer hfe while the seal efiected thereby is capable of withstanding high pressure. Finally, when cap 24 is screwed entirely into the upper wall 21 of the casing 13, another liquid-tight seal is effected between the seat 22 and washer 29.

It shall be understood that when cap 24 oocupies the position last noted, the liquid-tight seal between seat 20 and washer 34 is maintained irrespective of pressure conditions within the tank.

If, when hydraulic pressure is being utilized as the dispensing agent, the extraneous source of pressure should be cut into service during a time that cap 24 is removed, or improperly positioned, or if with said cap properly positioned a leak should have developed in the cap washers, the liquid within the tank when forced upwardly through pipe 5 and conduit 1 will carry ball 10 against its seat to thereby prevent escape of the liquid.

Although l have described my invention as utilizable for sealing the filling spout of-an oil or gasoline tank, it is obvious that my invention may be otherwise utilized. For example, it is customary to provide individual tanks with an opening receiving suitable apparatus for gauging the depth of liquid, and an opening of this character may be readily sealed by apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.-

Further, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to use with tanks in which oil or gasoline is dispensed under pressure, for it is obvious that apparatus of the character herein disclosed may be utilized when dispensing other liquids under pressure or for sealing a tank or receptacle opening containing any liquid when an extraneous source of pressure is not utilized.

Further, it is to be understood that ball 10 alone may be utilized to effect a seal, or ball 10 may be utilized in combination wtih the usual type of cap comprising but a single seat. Further, it is to be understood that cap 24 may be separately utilized without ball 10, particularly when air pressure is the medium forcing the liquid from the tank, for under such circumstances liquid would not rise into casing 2. a

What I claim is: 1. In apparatus for dispensing liquid under pressure, valve structure comprising a conduit communicating with a liquid supply, a valve housing secured to said conduit and communicating therewith, liquid actuated valve means for closing said conduit in a region adjacent said housing, and additional closure means for closing said housing in a plurality of regions spaced from each other.

2. In apparatus for dispensing liquid under pressure, combined valve and closure structure comprising a housing, a cap for closing the exterior region thereof, a resilient ly mounted valve carried by said cap for closing said housing in a re ion spaced from said first re ion, and a con uit communicating with said housing and containing .l, liquid actuated valve for closing the passage between the conduit and said housing upon rise of liquid in said conduit.

3. Closure apparatus for a liquid dispensing system comprising an uppeihousmg, a

closure cap having members sealing of? said housing ma plurahty of regions, alower housing communicating with said upper housing and detachably secured thereto, and auxiha-ry valve structure for closing the passage between said housings upon rise of liquid in said lower housing.

4. Closure apparatus for a system dispensing liquid under pressure, comprising an upper housing, a cap closing said housing in one region and a resiliently mounted valve carried thereby for closing said housing at a remote region, a lower housing communicating with said upper housing,-and fluid actuated valve structure adapted to close the pas sage between said housings upon removal of the cap in said first housing.

5. In a liquid dispensing system, a supply I conduit, a valve housing forming an extension thereof, a cap closing the end of said housing,'a valve carried by said cap for closing said housing in a region spaced from said first closure, said cap being adapted to urge said valve into snug and tight engagement with its seat, and a liquid actuated valve disposed in said supply conduit for shutting ofi communication with said housing upon displacement of said cap and'valve structure.

6. In apparatus for dispensing liquid under pressure, valve structure comprising a non-perforated conduit communicating with a liquid supply, said conduit provided at its outer portion with a closure cap and means for sealing said cap with respect to said conduit, and a valve member supported solely by said closure cap and resiliently biased into position to normally seal and close off said conduit at a region remote from said cap, said closure cap adapted to preclude escape of liquid from the conduit upon movement' of said valve from its seat.

CARL H. EHLERS. 

